Superstore

Superstore, produced by NBC, is a workplace comedy that aired from 2015 to 2021. During its six seasons, this show introduced us to the Cloud 9 Superstore staff in their setting of a fictional big-box store located in St. Louis, Missouri. More than just a comedy, the series is a reflection of everyday life, casting a humorous, satirical eye over contemporary American culture, focusing on social issues, corporate hierarchy, and the diverse interactions within a workplace.

The show follows the day-to-day lives of an eclectic group of employees and the customers they encounter in their vast store. At the same time, the plot offers a window into the microcosm of society represented within the store. Each episode is filled with a colorful mix of customers, showcasing a variety of appearances, quirks, and peculiarities that anyone familiar with the retail environment will find both amusing and startlingly accurate. Spontaneous hilarity ensues as the series shines a spotlight on the often absurd situations that occur when working with the public.

The characters in Superstore are part of its charm. The ensemble cast is led by Amy Dubanowski, played by America Ferrera, who starts as an associate before working her way up through the corporate ladder. Amy is a sensible yet ambitious woman whose personal life intertwines dramatically with her career at Cloud 9. Then there’s Jonah Simms, portrayed by Ben Feldman, the enthusiastic but naïve new employee who provides a fresh, often idealistic perspective on the inner workings of the superstore.

The show features a diverse and colourful lineup of characters including Dina Fox, the rule-enforcing assistant store manager depicted by Lauren Ash; Glenn Sturgis, the well-intentioned but often misguided store manager portrayed by Mark McKinney; and Garrett McNeil, the often blunt and sarcastic employee played by Colton Dunn. You have characters like Cheyenne Lee, the young, fun-loving cashier who balances work with motherhood, and Mateo Liwanag, a zealous employee always on the lookout for a promotion, greatly enriching the show by providing unique perspectives and hilarious interactions.

The writers excel at crafting storylines that social commentaries on a variety of topics, integrating them seamlessly into episodes without weighing down the comedic atmosphere. Topics such as labor rights, healthcare, immigration, corporate power, and social inequity are often part of the overarching narrative, providing substance to episodes and acting as catalysts for character development and story progression.

Superstore's contemporary setting and well-realized cast make the series relatable for many viewers. The characters enter affordable care debates, contend with minimum wage issues, and even deal with the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on retail workers. The series tackles these challenging themes with a comedic tone and light-hearted manner, adding value and depth to what could easily be a run-of-the-mill comedy show.

Moreover, the show is intelligent in its humor, with a mix of slapstick comedy, character-driven humor, and witty dialogue. The series equally relies on unexpected comedic moments made by random customers and the eccentric personalities of the main cast. All these elements help Superstore maintain its comedic consistency throughout its six-season run.

Created by Justin Spitzer, known for his work on The Office, Superstore takes the workplace comedy genre to a new setting: the retail world. It combines the hilarity of the everyday happenings in a superstore with the drama and relationships of the staff, much like The Office did for the corporate environment.

In summary, Superstore is both a comedic escapade following the journey of a disparate group of employees in an oversized store and a reflection on society, its issues, and the people who overlook them. It's witty, well-crafted, and above all, a down-to-earth representation of retail employees who manage to find joy and comedy in the chaos of everyday work life. If you're a fan of situational comedy with a dash of realism and an undercurrent of social commentary, Superstore is a must-watch. And even if you're an occasional viewer of sitcoms, the amusing characters, engaging storylines, and laugh-out-loud moments of this NBC series are sure to keep you hooked.